Fundraising for the waterfront art gallery is taking a big step forward.
Officials announced a total of $2.4 million has come in through their community fundraising campaign, including a pledge of $800,000 over four years from local ceramic artist Jake Black.
Black presented the first $200,000 installment of his contribution today. He explains he’s happy to make the donation because of the impact art has had on his life.
Other major contributors include the John Andrews Foundation with a gift of $250,000.
Art Gallery Director Sharon Godwin says they have $3.1 million left to raise toward the $33M project. She notes that at this stage, they expect to start construction in the summer of 2020. The project is expected to take two years to complete.
Meanwhile, the new waterfront art gallery is being honoured with a 2019 Canadian Architect Award of Merit. Designed by Patkau Architects (Vancouver) and Brook McIlroy (Thunder Bay, Toronto, Winnipeg) the new Gallery’s architectural design was influenced by consultation with Indigenous stakeholders including artists and Elders.
